This paper assesses whether two sustainability policies currently in effect in London, a congestion charge zone and a low emission zone, have affected freight operations and reduced vehicle kilometers travelled. It investigates responses by freight operators, including re-timing, re-routing, or reducing the number of trips, or replacing vehicles. Freight traffic trends from 1994 to 2012 were identified using road traffic estimates, cordon counts, and vehicle speed data and supplemented by interviews with freight industry experts and operators. Findings indicate that freight traffic increased throughout London during this timeframe, but declined in the central boroughs partly within the congestion charge zone. The congestion charge may have time-shifted some light goods trips, but most freight trips face a variety of constraints on operators’ delivery window. No evidence was found of re-routing of freight traffic or avoidance traffic around the charged zone. The low emission zone spurred higher levels of operational change than the congestion charge zone, and it was effective at spurring freight vehicle replacement. The paper also discusses freight operators’ perceptions of these policies and how they could be improved.

Overview of home deliveries in the UKBrowne, M., Anderson, S., Allen, J. and Jackson, M. 2001. Overview of home deliveries in the UK. University of Westminster and the Freight Transport Association, a study for the DTI.

United KingdomBrowne, M. 2001. United Kingdom. in: Report of the hundred and fifteenth Round Table on Transport Economics, held in Paris on 4th-5th November 1: road freight transport for own account in Europe Paris, France European Conference of Ministers of Transport.